Agenda item

Purpose: To provide an overview of the client-level data sets used in West Berkshire to understand the population needs, improve service delivery and inform policy decisions.

Barbara Billett (Quality Assurance Manager, West Berkshire Council) presented the report on the Adult Social Care (ASC) Client Level Data Set, explaining its purpose, scope, and the data being reported to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). She highlighted that the data set was in its early stages, having been statutorily required for only two years, and was evolving to provide more comprehensive insights into adult social care activity. The data was reported quarterly, covering a rolling twelve-month period, and was intended to inform the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) and support the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its assessments. Barbara also noted the inclusion of NHS numbers in the data set, which would eventually allow for integration with health data, supporting the broader integration agenda between health and social care.

During the debate the following points were discussed:

·         A question was raised whether Section 42 investigations referred to safeguarding investigations. It was confirmed that Section 42 investigations were safeguarding investigations but clarified that these were reported separately under the Safeguarding Adults Collection (SAC) and were not included in the ASC Client Level Data Set.

·         A question was asked about the term "AMHP work" mentioned in the report. It was explained that this referred to the work of Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs), who were responsible for conducting Mental Health Act assessments, which may lead to individuals being detained under the Act if they were in a mental health crisis.

·         Clarification was sought on the reference to "NRS insolvency." It was explained that NRS (Nottingham Rehab Services) was the equipment provider for Berkshire, including West Berkshire, and went into insolvency in the summer of 2025. This created significant challenges in sourcing and providing critical equipment for individuals requiring support. A new provider, Millbrook, had since been contracted, but during the transition period, only critical emergency equipment was available. It was noted that council officers worked hard to ensure service users were not adversely affected during this challenging period.

·         It was discussed how the Mosaic system, set to replace the outdated Care Director system in April 2026, would improve data management and address some of the current gaps in reporting. It was explained that Mosaic was a case management system widely used by local authorities to manage adult social care data.

·         A question was raised about the high number of young adults requiring long-term services in West Berkshire and whether this could be linked to the presence of specialist schools such as Mary Hare and Prior’s Court. It was confirmed that this was likely a contributing factor, as families often moved to the area for these schools and remained in West Berkshire, making their children ordinary residents who required adult social care support as they transitioned into adulthood.

·         Concerns were raised about the high percentage of requests (54%) and assessments (34%) resolved with "no further action." It was clarified that "no further action" did not mean no support was provided. In many cases, individuals received information, advice, or short-term support, such as equipment or reablement services, which helped them regain independence without requiring ongoing support from adult social care.

·         It was noted that the age and gender distribution of service users showed a high number of individuals aged 95 and over receiving support. It was explained that this reflected national trends, with more people living longer and requiring support later in life. It was emphasised that the council supported only a fraction of the population, as many older adults remained independent.

·         A question was asked about the potential for integrating the ASC Client Level Data Set with health data. It was confirmed that the inclusion of NHS numbers in the data set was a step towards achieving this integration, which would support the broader health and social care integration agenda. However, it was noted that this is still in the early stages.

·         It was discussed how benchmarking data from the ASC Client Level Data Set could be used to compare West Berkshire’s performance with other local authorities. It was noted that while benchmarking data was currently limited, the long-term services data allowed for some comparisons. It was highlighted that West Berkshire had a higher-than-average number of younger adults (aged 18-64) receiving long-term services but a lower-than-average number of older adults (aged 65+) receiving such services, which reflected the local demographic profile.

·         The importance of the ASC Client Level Data Set was emphasised in providing a comprehensive picture of adult social care activity and informing future service planning. It was advised that as the data set evolves, it would enable better benchmarking and collaboration with health partners. It was suggested that additional training or briefing sessions on data interpretation could be beneficial for committee members, particularly given the complexity of the data.